A life through the lens

"The contest was better than five dollars," he said. "It was just an intriguing photograph that I took on my way to work."

One day, he said he got a call to bring a can of gasoline with him the next morning, because he had just won the contest and a new car. When he arrived at the studio the car was pushed off the set, he filled it with gas, and then drove it off.

Smith's photography interest started in 1938 at 12 years old, but he is still shooting pictures today.

Additional author events are scheduled for Aug. 19 at the Open Door Bookstore in Schenectady from 5 to 8 p.m. and Sept. 15 at The Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza in Albany from 7 to 9 p.m. His book can be found on Amazon.com for purchase.